Locking clamp

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a novel and improved locking device and preferably a detachable or removable locking device for locking the fuel or lubricating systems of heavy duty construction equipment. The present device comprises an L-shaped body member having a base portion and an integral upstanding leg portion. An elongated slot is provided in the base portion thereof arranged to receive the stems and handles of the oil fill and dip stick of a bulldozer. A separate locking bar having cutout portions coinciding with the stems is pivotally mounted at one end of the member and is arranged to slide into and out of engagement with the bar to position the cutout portions in locking position relative to the oil fill and dip stick stems. Means is provided for securing the base member and locking bar in position whereby the caps for the oil fill and dip stick cannot be removed. In a modified form of the invention, a locking device for the fuel fill caps of heavy duty construction equipment is provided and comprises a hollow, cylindrical body member arranged to fit over and surround the cap and filling spout and be welded to the tank. A locking bar pivotally mounted on one side of the cylinder wall is arranged to extend across a cutout in the open end of the cylinder and to be locked in place by means of a padlock, or the like, to the opposed cylinder wall, thus making removal of the cap impossible.

United States Patent Desroches 1 Oct. 3, 1972 LOCKING CLAMP [72]Inventor: Philip J. Desroches, West Yarmouth, Mass.

[7 3] Assignee: Universal Saddle Hanger, Inc., West l-larwick, Mass.

[22] Filed: Oct. 15, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 80,996

[52] US. Cl. ..70/164, 70/212, 70/229, 220/ P, 220/55 L, 220/35 P [51]Int. Cl. ..Bd 55/14 [58] Field of Search....70/19, 58, 164, 175, 177,178, /180, 199, 200, 209, 211, 212, 232, 230, 229, 158, 159; 220/55 P,55 L, P

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,371,958 3/1921 Weidner..70/200 2,749,738 6/1956 Frost ..70/232 1,832,057 11/1931 Stein..70/164 3,349,947 10/ 1967 Zumwalt ..-70/158 X Primary Examiner-AlbertG. Craig, Jr. -Attorney-Robert R. Churchill 57 ABSTRACT The presentinvention relates to a novel and improved locking device and preferablya detachable or removable locking device for locking the fuel orlubricating systems of heavy duty construction equipment. The presentdevice comprises an L-shaped body member having a base portion and anintegral upstanding leg portion. An elongated slot is provided in'thebase portion thereof arranged to receive the stems and handles of theoil fill and dip stick of a bulldozer. A separate locking bar havingcutout portions coinciding with the stems is pivotally mounted at oneend of the member and is arranged to slide into and out of engagement,

with the bar to position the cutout portions in locking positionrelative to the oil fill and dip stick stems. Means is provided forsecuring the base member and locking bar in position whereby the capsfor the oil fill and dip stick cannot be removed.

In a modified form of the invention, a locking device for the fuel fillcaps of heavy duty construction equipment is provided and comprises ahollow, cylindrical body member arranged to fit over and surround thecap and filling spout and be welded to the tank. A

locking bar pivotally mounted on one side of the cylinder wall isarranged to extend across a cutout in the open end of the cylinder andto be locked in place by means of a padlock, or the like, to the opposedcylinder wall, thus making removal of the cap impossible.

6 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures LOCKING CLAMP BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONDESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Prior to the present invention, the locksof which I am aware either embodied locks disposed in the caps Ithemselves opened or locked by the use of keys, or in case of oil'filland dip stick locks, rather crude devices which were easily broken orjimmied. The need for an efficient and inexpensive system for lockingthe fuel and/or lubrication filling systems of heavy duty equipment isindeed great, since such equipment is left on jobs, usually in remoteplaces, and prior to the present invention, the loss of fuel and,perhaps more important, damage to the equipment by means of filling thetanks or crankcases with sand or other foreign matter has becomeprevalent. Thus, there has arisen a great need for an inexpensive,efficient locking system.

I SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention contemplates a novel andimproved locking device for the fuel and lubrication systems of heavyduty equipment, such as bulldozers, tractors, and the like.

In its preferred form, the present mechanism comprises an elongatedL-shaped member and flat barlike member pivotally mounted at one end ofthe upstanding leg of the L-shaped member. The base portion is providedwith an elongated slot through which the handles and portions of thestems of the oil fill and dip stick caps are passed, and the bar memberincludes a pair of cooperating slots also adapted to fit around the stemportion of the caps to enclose the same. Means is provided for lockingthe bar and L-shaped members together, thereby preventing the caps frombeing removed from the oil fill and dip stick tanks. Since theupstanding portion of the device bears against the engine itself, theentire device cannot be rotated and thus removed until the bar ispivoted or slid out of position relative to the body member.

Accordingly, the principal object of the invention is to provide a noveland improved lock for the fuel and lubricating systems of heavy dutyconstruction equipment, such as bulldozers and other earth-movingequipment.

A further object is to provide a locking device which is substantiallyburglar-proof and -is simple and economical to manufacture.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings illustrating the preferredembodiment of the invention:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the device positioned against the engine of theequipment showing it in locked and unlocked position;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an end view .of the device in operative position;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a modified form of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation taken from the rear of the same;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the device taken on the line 66 ofFIG. 5; and I FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the device mounted on theside of a fuel tank.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawingsand to FIGS. 1 and 2 in particular, the present invention, asshowntherein, comprises a device for locking and maintaining the oil fill anddip stick caps of heavy duty construction equipment in a closed positionto prevent the removal of the caps by unauthorized personnel. In itspreferred form the present locking device indicated at 10 comprises twometal parts consisting of an elongated L-shaped member 12 having a base14, an integral upstanding leg 16 and a flat bar member 20 pivotallymounted in any suitable manneron the base 14. As shown, the base and legportions 14, 16 are substantially equal in width. However, one may bewider or narrower than the other if desired. The base 14 is providedwith an elongated, transversely extended slot 18 located adjacent theupstanding leg 16. The second part of the device comprises a flat bar 20of a width somewhat less than the width of the base 14 which ispivotally and slidably mounted on one end 22 of the base 14 by a rivet24 or other suitable fastening such that it may be moved inwardly oroutwardly across the face of the base 14.

The flat bar 20 is provided with a pair of cutout portions 30, 32arranged to cooperate with and enclose the stems 26 between the edges ofthe slots and leg 16 when the device is in operative locking positionwith the handles 28 and stems extended upwardly through the elongatedslot 18. The free end of the bar is provided with a hole 34 arranged tocooperate with a hole 36 in the base 14 such that a leg of a padlock maybe inserted through the cooperating aligned holes to lock the bar andbase in a relatively fixed position.

In operation, in order to securely lock the oil fill and dip position.stick caps in position on their respective filling spouts 36, 38, thebase member 14 is positioned over the handles 28 and fitted downwardly,the handles and stems being passed through the elongatedslot as bestshown in FIG. 3. The upstanding portion 16 is positioned against theengine wall 40 such that it cannot be rotatably turned, and the base 14rests on the caps 31. Thereafter, the flat, pivotally mounted bar 20 isswung into locking position, i.e., with the cutout portions 30, 32surrounding the stems 26, the bar and base being secured together bymeans of a padlock passed through the aligned holes in each member asshown. Thus, it will be seen that if an attempt is made to unscrew thecaps, the handles are prevented from being turned any substantial degreeby the upstanding portion 16. It will also be apparent that the presentlocking device may be easily removed when it is desired to refill orcheck the oil in the lubrication system by merely unfastening thepadlock and sliding the bar 20 out of posi- In a modified form of theinvention illustrated particularly in FIGS. 47,- the present inventionis adapted for use particularly in preventing access to the fuel fillspouts through which fuel is fed to the-fuel tank of heavy dutyconstruction equipment. The device comprises a hollow, cylindricalmember 42 open at both ends. As shown in FIGS. 4-6, the member 42 iswelded to the fuel tank 44 or casing for the fuel tank such that itsurrounds the-spout 46. One wall 43 of the cylinder 42 is provided atits upper edge with laterally extended flanges 50, 52, one extendingbeyond each side wall of the cylinder 42. The opposing wall 54 of theupper end of the cylinder is cut out so that the top of the wall isbelow the wall 48. The cutout portion indicated at 49 is of the samewidth as the width of the flanges 50, 52. A flat bar 56 is pivotally orslidably mountedon flange 50 by means of a rivet 58 such that it extendsacross the hollow portion of the cylinder and rests on edge on the upperedge 54 of the wall of the cutout portion. The free end 60 of the bar isprovided with a hole 62 which is in alignment with a hole 64 in theflange 52 when the bar is in position resting on the edge of the cutoutportion. As illustrated, the bar is arranged to belocked in position bymeans of the padlock 66 having a' leg 64 extended through the alignedholes. The bar prevents removal of the cap, and consequently,unauthorized tampering with the fuel supply is prevented.

As illustrated in FIG. 1-3, the present device is particularly adaptedto secure and lock oil fill and dip stick, i.e., measuring stick cap, ofheavy duty equipment in a closed, secured position. Each of the caps isof the type shown and comprises a cap having an integral stem 26 andhandle 28. The caps 31 are of the screw-on type and must engage and bescrewed on the oil fill or dip stick outlet pipes 36, 38 to close thelubrication system.

FIG. 7 illustrates a form of the present invention wherein the fillingspout 68 and fuel tank cap 68 extend outwardly from the side of thetank, and the base of the cylinder is cut on an angle to permit it to bewelded to the tank wall in the manner shown.

From the foregoing description of the present invention, it will beapparent that the invention provides a novel and improved lock for'heavyduty construction equipment which is simple in construction and highlyeffective in eliminating costly vandalism or theft.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

l. A locking device for locking the lubricating system of a piece ofheavy duty automotive construction equipment which comprises an L-shapedbody member, an elongated extended slot disposed in one leg of theL-shaped member, a bar member pivotally mounted at one end of theslotted member, said bar member having a pair of open-ended slots in oneedge arranged to slide into position to cooperate with the longitudinalslot, the slotted portion of the L-shaped member being positioned overthe handles and stems of the oil fill and dip stick caps of theequipment such that the stems are confined within the slot, the barmoved into and secured in position to further confine the stems withinthe cutout portions and the upstanding portion of the L-shaped memberpositioned to prevent rotation of the handles and integral caps, therebyprave ttinggem va l of the caps. oc

mg evice for heavy duty automotive equipment comprising a hollowopen-ended cylinder secured about the fuel intake spout of theequipment, and having a.cutout portion in the upper edge of one wallthereof, a pair of laterally extended flange portions in the cylinderwall adjacent the cutout portions, a locking bar pivotally mounted onone extended portion and arranged to cooperate with and be secured tothe other extended portion, said bar resting on the edge of the cutoutportion and extending across the cylinder, and means for securing thebar to said other extended portion to prevent removal of the fuel cap.

3. A locking device as defined in claim 2 wherein the cutout portion isof a depth equal to the width of the locking bar and wherein the bar inlocked position rests against the adjacent upstanding wall of thecylinder.

4. A locking device as defined in claim 2 wherein the extended flangeportions are integral with the cylinder wall.

5. A locking device as defined in claim 2 wherein the cylinder is weldedto the body of the equipment around the intake spout.

6. A locking device as defined in claim 2 wherein the free end of thebar is secured to the flange by means of a padlock.

1. A locking device for locking the lubricating system of a piece ofheavy duty automotive construction equipment which comprises an L-shapedbody member, an elongated extended slot disposed in one leg of theL-shaped member, a bar member pivotally mounted at one end of theslotted member, said bar member having a pair of open-ended slots in oneedge arranged to slide into position to cooperate with the longitudinalslot, the slotted portion of the L-shaped member being positioned overthe handles and stems of the oil fill and dip stick caps of theequipment such that the stems are confined within the slot, the barmoved into and secured in position to further confine the stems withinthe cutout portions and the upstanding portion of the L-shaped memberpositioned to prevent rotation of the handles and integral caps, therebypreventing removal of the caps.
 2. A locking device for heavy dutyautomotive equipment comprising a hollow open-ended cylinder securedabout the fuel intake spout of the equipment, and having a cutoutportion in the upper edge of one wall thereof, a pair of laterallyextended flange portions in the cylinder wall adjacent the cutoutportions, a locking bar pivotally mounted on one extended portion andarranged to cooperate with and be secured to the other extended portion,said bar resting on thE edge of the cutout portion and extending acrossthe cylinder, and means for securing the bar to said other extendedportion to prevent removal of the fuel cap.
 3. A locking device asdefined in claim 2 wherein the cutout portion is of a depth equal to thewidth of the locking bar and wherein the bar in locked position restsagainst the adjacent upstanding wall of the cylinder.
 4. A lockingdevice as defined in claim 2 wherein the extended flange portions areintegral with the cylinder wall.
 5. A locking device as defined in claim2 wherein the cylinder is welded to the body of the equipment around theintake spout.
 6. A locking device as defined in claim 2 wherein the freeend of the bar is secured to the flange by means of a padlock.